On January 21, 2026, the London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) will present a concert at the Royal Festival Hall in London, featuring a program that juxtaposes industrial-themed compositions with Romantic and contemporary works. Under the baton of Vladimir Jurowski, the evening will include performances of Alexander Mosolov’s The Iron Foundry, Sergei Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Anna Korsun’s Terricone, and Sergei Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 2.
The concert will commence with Mosolov’s The Iron Foundry, a brief yet impactful piece that encapsulates the mechanized energy of the early Soviet era. This will be followed by Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, featuring pianist Anna Vinnitskaya. Vinnitskaya, known for her nuanced interpretations, will navigate the intricate variations of this work, which blends virtuosic demands with lyrical passages.
After the interval, the program will continue with the UK premiere of Anna Korsun’s Terricone. Korsun, a Ukrainian composer, draws inspiration from the industrial landscapes of the Donbas region, particularly the man-made hills formed from mining waste known as “terricones.” Her composition reflects on the transformation of these landscapes, offering a contemporary perspective on the intersection of nature and industry.
The evening will conclude with Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 2, a work the composer described as a “symphony of iron and steel.” This piece embodies the industrial spirit of its time, characterized by its bold orchestration and structural complexity. Jurowski’s interpretation is anticipated to highlight the symphony’s dynamic contrasts and mechanical rhythms, providing a fitting culmination to a program that explores themes of industrialization and its impact on the human experience.
Composers in the crosshairs of our attention